How to Build Jerk Blocks - Part 1: Stackers

[@Bakeshop88]

I followed these instructions to make some "jerk blocks" at home to do block pulls off of. Topper as specified and then a 4" stacker puts the bar right below my tibial tuberosity. Gentler on the bar than rack pulls. Also made a pair of 6" stackers in anticipation of doing some box squats (only needed one but made two in case I found another use for them further down the line). Great videos

[@TestifySC]

Excellent, and thanks! Yep, rack pulls are great if you have a bar that's already bent (since they will bend a bar anyway), but you're absolutely right that block pulls are easier on the bar.

[@CALL0US.]

Times like this I wish I had basic carpentry skills . Unfortunately my attention span can’t keep up I’m gonna have to fork up the dough 🥲🤌 💸 💸

[@TestifySC]

Yeah, the commercially available options are pricey. Even with the crazily increased prices of lumber when we purchased the wood, we still paid less than half of what we would’ve paid for a commercial version. The carpentry skills aren’t too crazy though - believe me, I’m not all that much of a carpenter :-)

[@maxwellleescarlett1915]

Can you please give the names of the tools. That’s 90 degree clamp looks useful

[@TestifySC]

There's an "Other materials you'll need" section in the description below the video, and I've now updated that list to include links to the tools as well. So that you don't have to scroll back up, here's the list, and the corner clamp you mentioned as at the end: Other materials you'll need: Chop saw/miter saw/circular saw (Dewalt Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch: amzn.to/3WRMjqZ) Tape measure (Craftsman 25-Ft Tape Measure: amzn.to/4avIV8k) Drill (Dewalt 20V Max XR Drill/Driver: amzn.to/3twaNtl) Driver (Dewalt 20V Max XR Impact Driver: amzn.to/3Vb9lrA) 3" screws (Grip-Rite 3" Screw: amzn.to/3USjc4b) 1 5/8" screws (Grip-Rite 1 5/8" Screw: amzn.to/3Kf3f32) Medium or course grit sandpaper (3M Medium Grit Sandpaper: amzn.to/3yvSqaq) Hammer/mallet (Craftsman Hammer: amzn.to/3K9Kluu) Ruler/speed square (Swanson Tool Co Speed Square: amzn.to/3yvLwBU) Clamps (Irwin Tools Corner Clamp: amzn.to/4bzEs68)

[@fredastaire6156]

this is exactly the video I was looking for!! Thank you for posting this. what would you suggest as a total height of the jerk blocks if I'm standing erect in a front rack position and the bar is appx. 5' from the floor? (I'm thinking that 44" would be a bit too low an I would rather not be constantly getting into a quarter front squat to front rack the bar BUT at the same time I don't want it too high and run the risk of bumping or banging it when I go to dip for my jerks) I'm 6'1" by the way, if that helps. Thanks again for posting this!

[@TestifySC]

Hey there Fred - sorry for the belated response. The blocks stand about 3'9" (i.e., 45") if all of them are used. I'm about 6'0" and have to remove the smallest stacker to jerk from the blocks, and another one of our coaches, who is about 6'2" does the same (he might be able to use all of them, but it comes awfully close and isn't worth having it in the back of your mind when you're doing jerks). With that said, since we don't even use them all, I think this setup should be tall enough for you. You might be able to get away without making the 6" stacker (since that's the one we take out for jerks), but that's a useful one to have for other purposes, so I'd recommend still making it.

[@slaes]

Thanks !!!

[@TestifySC]

You're welcome!

[@DRT95904]

Hey, great video! looking into doing something like this for my home gym. I was wondering what the relative weights of the blocks were. Do you find them heavy to move around?

[@TestifySC]

Thanks, and that’s a great question. We hadn’t ever actually weighed them until you asked that question, so we did that today. As the topper is and needs to be the most solid piece, it is easily the heaviest (which is why we put nicer handles on that), and that weighs in at just under 80 pounds. We didn’t weigh all of the stackers, but the 2 x 6 stacker (the shortest one) was about 25 pounds, so the biggest stacker (the 2 x 10 one) probably weighs in around 40 pounds. It’s worth noting that the stackers, in addition to being lighter, are simply far easier to handle due to their construction. Sometimes people will use the handles, but often we will just grab them from the inside since they are essentially hollow. The topper can really only be grabbed by the handles, so it’s unwieldy because you have to reach your arms out pretty wide. Whenever possible, people will usually get someone to help with the topper, but it’s not strictly necessary. The blocks are very nice to have, so it’s a champagne problem, but I figured you might as well know :-)

[@DRT95904]

Thanks for the reply! Again, love the videos@@TestifySC

[@TestifySC]

You’re welcome, and thanks very much!

[@richmonschumann4218]

What height do you build the jerk blocks to? Is it based on a standard or just the height of the person using the blocks?

[@TestifySC]

These are about 45 to 46 inches tall. They were designed with the goal that pretty much anybody (even relatively tall people) could still use them for jerk blocks. Most people will not use all of the blocks when performing jerks from the blocks.

[@leitman]

great video. did you use 10 ft long board?

[@TestifySC]

Thanks Eric, and it's been long enough since we made those that I'm not sure what size board we bought and used. It was probably at least a 10 footer. The list of cuts are in the description below the video, but I realize that doesn't tell you the length of the original boards used.

[@bmstylee]

I'm thinking about building about building a set of these for my house this summer. How are they holding up?

[@TestifySC]

Overall, they are holding up very well. We will probably eventually do a video about that as well as any changes we would make. One change I would recommend is to set the tabs higher than the 1 inch we show in the video. 1 1/2 to 2 inches is better.

[@bmstylee]

@@TestifySC thanks for the information. Doing push presses and power jerks from a rack is, shall I say, a bit awkward. I priced out stuff and it's a few hundred dollars in materials. I would probably rent or more likely buy a chop saw with a radial arm function on it. It would still be cheaper than buying built blocks from any gym equipment company even buying the new saw. Any suggestions on finishing? Something like polyurethane or paint? Just thinking about how I can make a custom looking block for my garage gym.

[@TestifySC]

Oh man, now you're getting into making it look good - not my specialty :-) That said, if I added anything, I'd either do a polyurethane coat (like we've done with our platforms, but those have sand mixed in for grip) or a stain and then a polyurethane coat.

[@aakashaggarwal685]

Hi, what kind of board did you use for the blocks?

[@TestifySC]

I believe most of it was fir (NOT pressure treated). Essentially, we got whatever Lowe’s had on hand.

[@aakashaggarwal685]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I meant did you use plywood, blockboard or solid wood or engineered wood? And an extension to that, do you think ply boards are a good choice for blocks?

[@P3ak930]

How much did this cost total. Thanks.

[@TestifySC]

If I recall correctly, the lumber cost was around $400 or so, and by that point, lumber prices were already up quite a bit.